126 - A New Avenger
The Kingdom of Lydia accepted the recommendation for surrender. Surrender under the same conditions as the Kingdom of Aria. This was despite knowing that the terms presented were Fumiya's sole decision. That was precisely why they decided to accept immediately. If it became a formal negotiation with the Laurel Kingdom, they could not imagine receiving such favorable terms. They judged that they should accept it as formal while they still could. Even if a formal envoy from the Laurel Kingdom were to come and try to overturn it later, the higher the starting line for renegotiation, the better it would be for them.
Upon hearing that the recommendation for surrender had been accepted, Fumiya continued to behave selfishly, without confirming with his home country whether they would accept the surrender, just as he had with the Kingdom of Aria.
"The greatest military achievement! Are you enjoying yourselves!?"
Fumiya was in high spirits. Currently, they were in the middle of a banquet. It was a gathering to reward the soldiers who had distinguished themselves in the battle against the Kingdom of Lydia.
"Y-yes. I am enjoying it."
The soldier who was spoken to was bewildered. Not because Fumiya had spoken to him, but since the moment he had been called to this banquet. A gathering where the commander himself rewards ordinary soldiers. The soldiers had never heard of such a thing. It was different from a private reward party held at a tavern.
"Your performance on the battlefield was wonderful. I am proud to have a soldier like you in my army."
Fumiya did nothing but praise the soldier. This banquet was held to gain control over his subordinates. He plotted to make their loyalty directed toward himself rather than the country.
"T-thank you very much."
The commander had noticed the work of a mere private like himself. Knowing this, the soldier's face flushed with joy.
"I will give you a reward bonus later. Keep doing your best for me from now on."
"Y-yes!"
Not just words, but he would receive money. The soldier was completely elated by the unbelievable preferential treatment. However, Fumiya's coaxing did not end here. He wanted them to think that they could never experience such sweetness in any other army.
"...If you achieve an even more amazing military feat, you'll be able to have an unbelievable experience."
Unlike before, Fumiya's voice became quite hushed.
"An unbelievable experience?"
The soldier's voice also grew small upon hearing that. It was just a feeling.
"Don't you want to embrace a princess?"
"Eh...?"
"Someone you aren't even allowed to cast a glance at, let alone approach. Don't you want to embrace such a person?"
"............"
The soldier did not know how to answer Fumiya's question. If he said the wrong thing, it would lead to something terrible. Saying he wanted to embrace a princess was an outrageous remark for which he could be executed for irreverence.
"...It's impossible right away. If you achieve a great military feat, I can promote you to a knight. Once you become a knight, the path to becoming a general opens. Then, even a romance with the princess... Don't you think it's a dream worth having?"
"...Ah, yes. It is a very wonderful dream."
A story of an impossible dream during a drinking session. Thinking this, the soldier felt relieved. Seeing this reaction, Fumiya judged it a failure. To an ordinary soldier, a princess was too much of a presence in the clouds. If he were to use this method, it should be for knights, and for soldiers...
"The princess was a joke, but I have wonderful women prepared."
"Eh?"
The soldier's expression stiffened again.
"Don't make that face. This kind of reward is common among the knight class. I simply want to give it fairly to all the soldiers who are truly going through hardships."
"...Um, is that really true?"
"Just because they are wonderful women, don't fall in love, okay? One night is fine, but forget about it once morning comes. That is the agreement."
A relationship for one night only, with no lingering attachments. There is no need to worry about what happens afterward. That is what Fumiya said.
"...Yes. Thank you very much."
The soldier finally felt like accepting. If there was no worry about the aftermath, there was no reason to refuse. Unless his wife was terrifying. And this soldier had neither a terrifying wife nor a lover. Fumiya had the diligence to properly investigate such things. He was a calculating man by nature. And just as Fumiya intended, the banquet of this evening became a great topic of conversation among the soldiers. It was only natural. Even just rewarding the soldiers was unusual, but they were lavishly provided with delicious liquor and food that they could normally never taste, as well as noble women. A commander who would hold such a banquet did not exist in any country on this continent other than Fumiya. He was one of a kind.
◇◇◇
The next day at noon. While feeling unpleasant due to a heavy head from drinking too much, Fumiya was at a meeting where he felt a different kind of unpleasantness. An envoy from Sieg had arrived. When it was an envoy from Sieg, it was never for a good reason for Fumiya. Knowing this, Fumiya showed a displeased face even before the conversation began.
"Please do not make such a face. I am not your enemy."
"...It's nothing, this is just because of the hangover."
Contrary to what he had imagined, the envoy's attitude was soft. Thinking this, Fumiya glossed over his displeasure.
"A hangover, is it? That is enviable. Until I came here, I have not been able to put a single drop of alcohol in my mouth."
"Why?"
It didn't seem like he had come without sleep or rest. The envoy did not look that tired.
"You understand, don't you? He is a strict person."
"Ah, I see."
Because he was afraid of Sieg. Fumiya was convinced by the envoy's explanation. Though Fumiya himself would never abstain from alcohol just because he was afraid.
"Now then, it seems you have even brought the Kingdom of Lydia to surrender."
"A-ah... the Kingdom of Lydia accepted the surrender."
He had done it without the permission of the Laurel Kingdom. Fumiya also felt a sense of guilt about that.
"Two countries in such a short period. An admirable performance."
"Eh?"
He thought it was an envoy of reprimand, but the other party was praising him. Fumiya was bewildered by the envoy's unexpected words.
"However, doing things without permission is not good. Such a great achievement would be tarnished."
"...There was no time."
It was strange to say 'finally,' but the conversation began to move in a direction Fumiya did not desire.
"That just shows how great Fumiya-dono's momentum was, but there are many people in the army who value discipline. You should have considered that."
"I understand that, but isn't making the enemy surrender more important?"
"Exactly."
"Eh?"
The envoy readily accepted Fumiya's excuse. Fumiya no longer knew what the other party was thinking.
"As long as you win, that's all that matters. As the saying goes, victory makes one right."
"...That's true. In a war, you must win."
"On the other hand, there is also the saying that the nail that sticks out gets hammered down."
The envoy said 'on the other hand,' but it wasn't a contrasting statement. He simply wanted to say the latter phrase.
"...Are you saying that I am the nail that sticks out?"
"Is there anyone else who has achieved such great military feats alone?"
"No."
There was no one who had achieved as many merits as he had in the foreign expedition. Fumiya had that pride.
"If the subsequent response is handled incorrectly, all the military achievements will become nothing. I believe that would be a waste."
"...What do you mean by that?"
The envoy had some intention. Fumiya finally understood that. The problem was what that intention was. From the conversation so far, Fumiya felt the man was someone who would bring him benefit.
"Shall we discuss those matters in detail while sharing some drinks?"
"Eh? Drinks?"
"I have been enduring it for a long time. And since I knew I had to endure, I prepared a specific liquor for this moment."
"...Uh, it's your business if you drink. But I have a hangover."
It seemed the envoy was a slightly strange person. Fumiya thought he should not take the words of such a person seriously. Just because he had expected a little, he now felt quite disappointed as a reaction.
"There is a term called 'hair of the dog.' Well, just think of it as being tricked and have just one sip. This is the best liquor I have ever tasted. Moreover, it is a special liquor that is rarely obtainable."
"Special liquor... is it famous?"
He no longer cared about the envoy's talk, but he became curious about the liquor. He thought it might be good as a reward for the soldiers.
"Whether it can be called famous is a difficult point. As I mentioned earlier, it is a liquor that is rarely obtainable. It is a liquor known only to those in the know."
"I see..."
"However, once you drink it, it is a liquor you will absolutely never forget. There is no mistake about that."
"But since it's unobtainable..."
If it was an unobtainable liquor, it couldn't be used as a reward. Fumiya lost interest in the liquor as well.
"However, I have special connections. That is why, even if I seek it suddenly, I can obtain it like this... Are you more interested in the talk about liquor?"
"Eh? Ah, no, I just thought I'd relax my mood a bit."
"In that case, drinking is the best. Well, please have a glass."
Saying this, the envoy took out two cups from his bosom and began to pour the liquor he had brought into them. Fumiya thought the smell of alcohol was harsh for a hangover, but...
"...It's a nice scent, isn't it?"
The scent of the envoy's liquor was not something that made him feel sick. On the contrary, it was a very intriguing scent.
"Right? This scent is the characteristic of this liquor. And when you take this into your mouth..."
The envoy brought the cup to his lips. As he took the liquor into his mouth, he closed his eyes and showed an entranced expression.
"...No matter how many times I taste it, it's delicious. The scent that spreads in the mouth and changes is irresistible."
He poured liquor into the empty cup again and brought it to his lips. Another glass. The envoy seemed to have forgotten Fumiya, absorbed in tasting it himself. Liquor to that extent. Attracted by the wonderful scent, Fumiya also took the cup and took a sip. The scent that spread throughout his mouth, then escaped through his nose, and the further entrancing scent delighted Fumiya.
"This... is amazing."
Fumiya didn't understand the taste of liquor. But this was in a class of its own.
"Right? I'm glad. That you could feel happiness at the end."
"...The end?"
The envoy started saying strange things again. It was content that Fumiya understood even less than before.
"Yes. A liquor like this is not something one can taste many times in a lifetime. For you, this is the last."
"...No, but you said you could get it because you have a special route."
"Yes, the liquor can be obtained. However, since your life will end here and now, it is the last."
"W-what did you say!?"
Fumiya finally understood what the envoy was saying. This man had not come as an envoy, but to kill him. Even knowing that, Fumiya was not one to just tremble and wait to be killed. On the contrary, he intended to easily counterattack, but...
"Eh..."
He tried to stand up, but the strength left his knees, and he collapsed on the spot.
"The scent of this liquor is wonderful. However, I added one more touch to it. How was it? The scent of the numbing agent."
"...Y-you bastard."
"I didn't put it in my own cup, so I didn't know. Could you tell me?"
"...C-cowardly..."
Due to the effect of the numbing agent, Fumiya could not even move his mouth well.
"...Now then, is the timing right?"
"...S-st...op..."
Fumiya became unable to even say words of begging for his life. This was the moment the envoy had been waiting for.
"Then, Fumiya-do... eh... wh-what..."
The words of the envoy, who should not have drunk the numbing agent, also became fragmented. It was not because of the drug. It was because of the sword tip protruding from the envoy's chest.
"Hero! Are you okay!?"
"...Wh...o...?"
"Good, don't speak. You're okay now. I have slain the assassin."
"...Ah... y-you..."
In his blurring vision, he could barely see a face. Fumiya knew that face. It was a person who should not be in this place.
"Sleep in peace. If it's a numbing agent, you should be fine once you wake up. It's okay. I will be watching over you by your side."
"............"
Without uttering a word, Fumiya closed his eyes just like that. In a state where he couldn't move, he had no choice but to trust the other party. Even if he had doubts, he couldn't do anything anyway.
"Now then..."
Once he confirmed that Fumiya had fallen asleep, the man who appeared approached the assassin lying on his back.
"...Wh... why...?"
"There is no need to tell you that. You are already dying."
"...T-tr... ah..."
As a finishing blow, the man thrust his sword into the man's mouth. With that, the man perished.
"Careless. Well, I knew that."
Fumiya had been meeting with the envoy alone in this room. To prevent those around him from knowing that he was proceeding with things on his own authority. And because he didn't want to show himself being reprimanded by the envoy.
"Hey!? Is anyone there!? The Hero-dono is in trouble! Someone!"
The man called out to people loudly. As expected, there seemed to be people nearby, and someone appeared immediately.
"Who are you?"
"I am Baldos, Captain of the Royal Guard of the Laurel Kingdom."
The man identified himself as the Captain of the Royal Guard of the Laurel Kingdom.
"Why is the Captain of the Royal Guard here?"
But the soldier who was called was a soldier of the Kingdom of Aria. It was unknown if that was true. If anything, he was suspicious. Even a soldier knew that the Royal Guard was not an organization that went to the front lines.
"I saved Hero-dono just as he was being drugged by an assassin."
"Eh!?"
Rather than confirming if the Captain of the Royal Guard was real, the soldier's feelings were carried away by the word 'assassin'.
"It's okay. It's just a numbing agent. There is no danger to his life. However, we cannot leave him lying on the floor. It would be better to carry him to a room."
"I understand, um... I'll go call one more person."
The soldier, unable to ask former Captain of the Royal Guard Baldos for help, went to call a comrade to help carry Fumiya together.
"...Now then, I've managed to get this far. The problem is whether I can make the Hero interested."
Baldos did not come here to save Fumiya. It was to involve Fumiya in his own conspiracy.
"I have no choice. My pride will not allow me to live my whole life hiding and running away."
Baldos had considered the possibility that the Laurel Kingdom would target his life. He was Baldos, who had served as the Captain of the Royal Guard. He understood at least that much. Baldos had no intention of being killed quietly. The feeling of dedicating his life for the country had long since vanished.
"...Just watch, Neil. I will definitely make you regret casting me aside."